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What is an Environmental Analysis?

An environmental analysis (or environmental assessment) is a decision-making tool, often applied in technology management to characterize the forces impacting an emerging technology or a new or existing product. The environmental analysis can help you determine the effects of a proposed project or policy, and to proactively assess the impacts of a developing or emerging product or discipline. An environmental analysis also provides a really useful structure for learning about an area or a theme new to you or your company and identifying what the “state of the art” is (e.g. petascale computing, nanotechnology, innovative composite materials).

To conduct an environmental analysis, you should investigate and outline:

CONTEXT. The technology of interest and the context in which it is/to be used

CHALLENGES. The challenges that are presently identifiable; what you know, and how it compares and contrasts with the unknowns

ALTERNATIVES. Examine alternatives to the scenario being evaluated, and investigate what criteria (e.g. values, beliefs, project constraints, technical constraints) might be used if you will choose between competing alternatives in the future

Where can you get data for an environmental analysis? In addition to searching through resources from newspapers, magazines and trade journals, check the following:

In the Growth Competitiveness Index (GCI) issued by the World Economic Forum, which is measured for more a hundred countries every year, there are four dimensions of global competitiveness routinely assessed: institutions, infrastructure, the macroeconomic environment, and health and education.

Because technology has the potential to impact productivity at many levels, and because it is embedded in each of these areas, the effects of technological change are implicit in macroeconomic measures of competitiveness.

National Science Foundation Solicitations for Research Proposals – The NSF solicitations are an excellent place to learn about the state of the art in various fields. The solicitations explain what topics are the most interesting to the experts today, and what they are willing to pay to know more about. Often, the solicitations will explain the most recent trends that may be difficult to ascertain from the industry and academic literature.

I'm available for consulting and enjoy work that addresses strategic positioning that integrates quality and innovation -- just email me and let me know what's on your mind! If I can't do it, I'll refer you to someone trustworthy who can. 100% of the proceeds from my consulting support the Burning Mind Project.

I also enjoy references to quality in fiction & drama so let me know if you read any good quality-related novels, or watch any movies where quality and innovation play major roles.

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